The future of work: How humans and machines are evolving to work together

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Value Proposition Design

In a previous article, titled ‘Why the future of work must be designed’, I stated “[if] history has taught us anything it’s that disruptive paradigm shifting business models not only create a fortune for the first movers, they lay the foundation for other new business models, new market entrants, and new jobs to follow. Yes, robots will replace humans for many jobs, just as innovative farming equipment replaced humans and horses during the industrial revolution. However, in the wake of these changes, humans will be needed to create and deliver value in brand new ways for brand new business models.” Even though it’s only been a few months since I wrote that article, I am today more convinced than ever that this is true!

Before I go on, I think it’s best to level set on what constitutes machines. In the context of this article (and probably the much broader global context as well), machines describe computers and computerized equipment, like robots, that have been programmed to learn, sometimes like humans. Occasionally we call this artificial intelligence (AI), other times we call this machine learning, and still other times we call this robotics…or simply bots. And, yes, these are technically different things. But, within the broad discussion related to the future of work, these are totally interrelated. Factory floors deploy robots that are increasingly driven by machine learning algorithms such that they can adjust to people working alongside them. Similarly, AI is being used to turn hand-drawn sketches (done by humans) into digital source code.

Similarly, “The Boston Consulting Group estimates that more than $67 billion will be spent worldwide in the robotics sector by 2025, compared to only $11 billion in 2005.”

Companies are clearly developing their AI and robotics expertise with the idea that through these technological innovations they’ll be able to A) cut costs; B) increase efficiencies; C) offer new value propositions; D) execute new business models; or E) all of the above.

Perhaps you’re someone who sees doom residing within these trends. I don’t blame you if you do. However, there are some really exciting examples where the opposite is true. In fact, the signals are all around us that the very same companies that are investing heavily in AI and robotics (and automation using these) are also finding that the best, most efficient, cost-effective solutions include humans and machines working together.

What’s most interesting about all three of these cases is that the machines make the processes they’re helping to automate more efficient, which in turn makes it easier, faster, and less expensive to create, deliver, and capture value for the companies that employ the machines. As Dave Clark, the top executive in charge of operations at Amazon, told the New York Times during a recent interview, “It’s a myth that automation destroys net job growth.” The increase in overall productivity has, in some cases, created more consumer demand, which has created more jobs.

So, will machines replace humans for many jobs? The answer is unequivocal, yes. However, I assert that with every job taken over by machines, there will be an equal number of opportunities for jobs to be done by people. Some of these human jobs will be of the creative type. Others will require humans to hone their superhuman reasoning skills. In many cases humans and machines will find themselves in symbiotic relationships, helping each other do what they do best. People and machines can and will work together in the future…and they’re already doing so today.

What do you think? How might we co-design (or co-create) the future of work together?